It'll get better. MLS has only been around 15 years. Can't really compare with leagues that have been around 100 yet.

It's a good start for young Canadian players. Really looking forward to seeing Jakovic for DC United and Bekker for Toronto FC.

I'll second this. MLS is the longest lasting soccer league in North America, and the first to not go bust, ever. It's probably in the top 20 leagues in the world, IMO it might be on par with the Championship in England.

While Europe is the better option in terms of competitive skill, MLS players are not exactly garbage either.

In terms of your nation's best players, you are going to want them to be sought after by the better European clubs as early as possible and playing first team football be it on loan or with their club. For the players that cannot break into a first team, a return to regular matches in the MLS would be preferred.

The important thing is getting them in the best developmental system and environments as early as possible and then regular first team football once they are ready. Personally, I'm more than happy to ship them across to Europe for 'finishing' school so as to allow us to focus on creating better early schooling systems.

__________________

“Such suburban models are being rationalized as ‘what people want,’ when in fact they are simply what is most expedient to produce. The truth is that what people want is a decent place to live, not just a suburban version of a decent place to live.”

I've read that Canada will now be playing a friendly against Belarus on March 25 in Qatar, which is an opponent that we should beat. Good to see lots of friendlies booked in the leadin to the 2013 Gold Cup, the team could have gone into hiding after the 8-1 loss.

Huge game for the u-20s this week against the US to qualify for their world cup. They dropped a game against Cuba they should have won in the round robin but they'd still have to play the Ticos so either way it would be a tough game. US will be a real challenge though.

They have a very solid roster compared to past editions, a couple of the guys who had been hinting at other nations like Aleman are there. Only guy I wanted to get a look at who didn't come is Fraser Aird but he's been making noise that he's going to try play for Scotland ever since he went over to Rangers.

Huge game for the u-20s this week against the US to qualify for their world cup. They dropped a game against Cuba they should have won in the round robin but they'd still have to play the Ticos so either way it would be a tough game. US will be a real challenge though.

They have a very solid roster compared to past editions, a couple of the guys who had been hinting at other nations like Aleman are there. Only guy I wanted to get a look at who didn't come is Fraser Aird but he's been making noise that he's going to try play for Scotland ever since he went over to Rangers.

Aleman is a very good prospect, and I hope Canada reaches out and caps him at the Gold Cup this year. If they don't, here's hoping he chooses Canada over Costa Rica. It's sad that we have to say this about every prospect but that's the result of being a nation that is so irrelevant on the world stage.

Aleman is a very good prospect, and I hope Canada reaches out and caps him at the Gold Cup this year. If they don't, here's hoping he chooses Canada over Costa Rica. It's sad that we have to say this about every prospect but that's the result of being a nation that is so irrelevant on the world stage.

I think he's in the fold to stay now, seems committed to the program. He's a good prospect but has a ways to go, hopefully he makes it. Playing an attacking game in a La Liga youth setup he could be a real boom or bust type prospect.

One of the better u-20 pools in recent years, usually we just have a handful of guys with pro setups and lots of NCAA/worse, other than the one forward TFC cut the whole team is signed on somewhere.

Happy to see the NASL guy on there too. As much as I hate Edmonton sports teams FCE has had the most Canadians on professional contracts for two years running. They have shown a brilliant commitment to improving the game in Canada.

I think he's in the fold to stay now, seems committed to the program. He's a good prospect but has a ways to go, hopefully he makes it. Playing an attacking game in a La Liga youth setup he could be a real boom or bust type prospect.

One of the better u-20 pools in recent years, usually we just have a handful of guys with pro setups and lots of NCAA/worse, other than the one forward TFC cut the whole team is signed on somewhere.

Happy to see the NASL guy on there too. As much as I hate Edmonton sports teams FCE has had the most Canadians on professional contracts for two years running. They have shown a brilliant commitment to improving the game in Canada.

Kyle Porter is actually no longer with FC Edmonton, he was dropped a few months back. According to this article he's about to sign with DC United shortly. Nonetheless, FC Edmonton is still the club giving the most professional chances to Canadians, moreso than the 3 MLS clubs combined.

Kyle Porter is actually no longer with FC Edmonton, he was dropped a few months back. According to this article he's about to sign with DC United shortly. Nonetheless, FC Edmonton is still the club giving the most professional chances to Canadians, moreso than the 3 MLS clubs combined.

This is why I think Edmontonians should stick with having an NASL club rather than jumping up to an MLS franchise; giving local/domestic players a shot at success is the clubs best/only shot at success.

__________________

“Such suburban models are being rationalized as ‘what people want,’ when in fact they are simply what is most expedient to produce. The truth is that what people want is a decent place to live, not just a suburban version of a decent place to live.”

And it has also been added to the schedule on Sportsnet World, for those of you who subscribe. Kickoff is 4:00 pm today, Calgary time. The winner gets a berth into the U-20 World Cup which will be a nice boost for the program, to say the least. I'll be setting the PVR and, after my son is in bed, watching the Flames game and this in sequence on PVR time delay.